Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 63

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell
Publication date: 1910
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1189

USA > Ohio > Hancock County > Findlay > Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens > Part 63

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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builder and lived for many years on a farm in Union Township, but late in life moved to Findlay, where his death occurred.

William E. Snyder was twelve years of age when the family came from Pennsylvania and he well remembers many thrilling incidents of the overland journey, and at that time saw his first railroad train. He resided on the home farm for about two years, and when fourteen years of age came to Findlay to become a clerk for the Henderson-Patterson Dry Goods Com- pany, of which the J. S. Patterson Dry Goods Company is the successor. Incidentally it may be remarked that Mr. J. S. Patterson, who is still in the dry goods business in Findlay was the only "boss" Mr. Snyder ever had, as, after working for the Henderson-Patterson Com- pany for about six years, and when but twenty years of age, Mr. Snyder formed a partnership with B. B. Barney in a general store at Mc- Comb, Hancock County, under the firm name of Barney-Snyder Company. This store was one of the pioneer department stores, selling almost everything imaginable. In 1865 Mr. Barney and Mr. Snyder opened up the old White Corner dry goods store in Findlay, and later on, with Charles Foster, who was then governor of Ohio, and a brother, D. D. Sny- der, he conducted a store at Fostoria, Ohio, and for several years continued to be interested in all three establishments. In 1870 Mr. Sny- der bought out the interests of Mr. Barney, and continued to conduct the store at Findlay under the firm name of W. E. Snyder Com- pany.

Mr. Snyder was married to Sarah H. Du- duit, a native of Hancock County, whose father, Frederick Duduit, was born in South- ern Ohio, near the Ohio River, and was a mem- ber of the well known Duduit family, natives

of France who are prominently mentioned in all histories of this State. Mr. and Mrs. Sny- der have had two children: Reginald C., who married Miss Alice Mack, daughter of the well known Sandusky editor, has one child, Alice, and lives in Coshocton, Ohio, being pro- prietor of the Coshocton Age; and Bernice Fredericka, living at home.

Mr. Snyder was the owner of the hotel building known as the Joy House, formerly the property of ex-Senator Joy, at the corner of Main and West Sandusky Streets, which has been remodeled and converted into the Glass Block Department Store, and it was mainly through Mr. Snyder's efforts that this estab- lishment was located in Findlay. He is the owner of a great deal of real estate, among which may be mentioned the Tavern Hotel building. He is prominent in Masonry, hav- ing attained to the 32nd degree, and now holds the office of Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 227, F. & A. M. of Findlay. Personally, Mr. Snyder is a very congenial gentleman, number- ing his friends by the hundreds, and, although retired from active business affairs, is still re- garded as one of Findlay's most prominent and public-spirited citizens.

SAMUEL EDWIN MOORHEAD, one of Portage Township's best known citizens, resides in his comfortable farm home which stands in Section 31, three miles southeast of McComb, O. In partnership with his two sons, Fred and Thaddeus E. Moor- head, he owns 172 acres of valuable and well improved land, situated in Sections 30 and 31, Portage Township. He was born on this farm, September 25, 1850, and is a son of Andrew and Letitia (Bell) Moor- head.

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Andrew Moorhead was born in West- moreland County, Pa., and died in Hancock County in 1884. He was brought to Stark County, Ohio, by his parents and his father, John Moorhead, died there. Andrew Moor- head came to Hancock County in 1836, one of six brothers who settled here between 1834 and 1836. Andrew Moorhead entered the land on which his descendants live and in order to reach it and take possession, he had to break his way through the forest and blaze a path for future return journeys to civilized regions. This path ran four miles through a dense wilderness. This land has never since been out of the Moor- head name. Both parents of Samuel E. Moorhead spent the remainder of their lives here, the mother dying when her son was but thirteen years of age.

Samuel Edwin Moorhead was reared on the farm that has caused his father so much toil and hardship to secure and as he grew to manhood he assisted largely in its devel- opment and with the exception of seven years, during which he lived in Liberty Township, has always resided here.

Mr. Moorhead married Miss Agnes Marshall, who was born at Slatington, Pa., and died here in 1884. She was a daughter of James Marshall, a native of Scotland, who came to Portage Township in 1868 and became a substantial farmer. Eight chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Moorhead, namely : Mabel M., who survives her hus- band, W. P. Jacobs: Grace, who is the wife of Charles Ream, of Fort Wayne; Andrew Clyde, who is engaged as a pumper in the oil fields, and lives in Portage Township; Frederick F., who resides on the home- stead; Bert M., who is a farmer, with a fam-

ily, and lives in Indiana; Adrian O., who lives with his family at Toledo, O .; Samuel C., who resides with his family in Indiana; and Thaddeus E., who remains on the homestead and with his brother, Fred F., operates the farm. He is married and has a family.

Mr. Moorhead is a Republican in politics and for sixteen years served as a member of the county election board. At the time of writing he is his party's candidate for county commissioner. Being a man of property, intelligence, good judgment and high personal standing, it would appear that he is particularly well qualified for an office of so much importance.

O. E. NEELEY*, junior member of the firm of W. E. Crater & Co., grocers, with business quarters in the Crater Block, oc- cupying Nos. 630-632 South Main Street, Findlay, Ohio, has been a resident of this city since 1890. He was born on a farm in Big Lick Township, Hancock County, Ohio, May 24, 1879, and is a son of David E. and Caroline (Conner) Neeley.

David E. Neeley was born in Hardin County, Ohio, but he became a resident of Findlay, where he died April 24, 1909. He married Caroline Conner, who was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, and died in 1886.

O. E. Neeley was reared on the farm and gained his book education in the country schools. After coming to Findlay he be- came a clerk in the grocery house of Barnett & Boyd, then engaged in business on the same corner that is the site of the Crater Block, and for three years before entering into the present firm, conducted a grocery business under the firm style of

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Harris & Neeley. Mr. Neeley has been identified with the present firm as junior partner since January 1, 1908. This firm has a high commercial rating, dealing only in standard goods and handling exclusively the products of the best manufacturers. The firm enjoys liberal patronage, which it entirely deserves.

Mr. Neeley was married to Miss Blanche Shaffer, a daughter of A. J. Shaffer, of Findlay, and they have had two children, Milton Edward, who died in infancy, and Martha Heloise. Mr. Neeley is affiliated fraternally with the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. He takes only the inter- est of a good citizen in politics, desiring no offices for himself and casting his vote for the candidates he feels assured will best carry out the laws and thus ensure the gen- eral welfare.

J. L. STEINER, superintendent of the Rawson public schools, has been a resident of this pleasant town since 1907 and has made both professional and personal friends since assuming the duties of his present im- portant office. He was born near Grand Rapids, in Kent County, Mich., April 29, 1874, and is a son of P. D. and Anna Steiner, of near Bluffton.

P. D. Steiner was born in Wayne County, ()., and is a son of Peter Steiner, who was a native of Germany. P. D. Steiner has al- ways followed agricultural pursuits and re- sides on his farm in Orange Township, Hancock County O. He married Anna Leatherman, who was born in Bucks County, Pa. She died May 13, 1882, in Kent County, Mich.

J. L. Steiner was eight years old when

his father moved from Michigan to Medina County, O., then to Wayne County and then to Richland Township, Allen County, then to Orange Township, Hancock County, where he attended the country schools for a time and later the public school known as the Center School, near Bluffton, and from there he entered the Bluffton High School, where he continued for two years. After teaching four years in Orange Township, Hancock County, and Monroe Township, Allen County, he spent three years in the Ohio Normal University at Ada, where he graduated in 1900. He also graduated at Elkhart Institute, which is now Goshen College, Goshen, Ind., in three courses. Since then he has been en- gaged in teaching and superintending schools in Indiana and Beaverdam, O. He has devoted his life to educational work and has gained recognition as a thoroughly qualified teacher. Under his management the Rawson schools have made very notice- able progress and his plans for the future include still further advancement of educa- tional standards.

Mr. Steiner was married in 1900, to Miss Lydia Metzler, who was born in Mahoning County, O., and died at her mother's home near Orville, O., August 10, 1910, aged thirty-one years and two months, leaving three children: Loren Franklin, Mary Evelyn, and Harold Metzler. Mr. Steiner is a member of the American Mennonite church, attending services near Bluffton. He also is active in church and Sunday school services at his place of residence. He is the active leader in educational progress in the schools and town.

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JACOB L. METZLER, who conducts a community. Mr. Metzler stands very high high class grocery and queensware store, is in the business circles of Findlay and has been president of the Findlay Retail Gro- cers' and Butchers' Association since 1900, and president of the Central Delivery System of Findlay since its organization. He has held the position of trustee of The Toledo Biscuit Co. since its organization and is also one of its directors. one of the most prominent business men and highly esteemed citizens of Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio, and has been iden- tified with the business interests of this city since 1887. He was born May 16, 1850, on a farm about five miles west of Findlay, Ohio, in Liberty Township, and is a son of Jacob and Harriet (Lenhart) Metzler. The parents of our subject were both natives of Mahoning County, Pa., and were there reared, educated and married. In 1849 they came to Hancock County, Ohio, and located on a farm in Liberty Township, where the father died in 1864. His widow subsequently removed to Johnston County, Mo., where she resided until the time of her death.

Jacob L. Metzler was about fourteen years old when he accompanied his wid- owed mother to Johnston County, Mo., where he resided until after her death, when he went to Colorado, where he was for two years interested in mining. He then engaged in the lumber and mercantile bus- iness which he carried on successfully for six years, and in 1887 came to Findlay, Ohio, where he entered the employ of his brother, H. H. Metzler, who for ten years operated the business now owned by our subject. The business was established in 1877 by H. H. Metzler and Mr. Hyatt (de- ceased), who was the owner of the Hyatt Block, in which the store is located. In 1890 Mr. Metzler bought the business from his brother, and has since continued to op- erate it with a high degree of success, com- manding an extensive patronage from the residents of Findlay and its surrounding

Mr. Metzler's home is located at No. 219 Defiance Avenue, where he has about one acre of ground, and devotes his spare time to breeding fancy poultry, making a spec- ialty of the noted French Houdan chicken. He is an acknowledged judge of fine chick- ens, and has a pair of the Houdan breed, which won the first prizes at the last show of the Cleveland Poultry Association, the hen taking first prize and the rooster second. This same hen won the trophy cup as the highest scoring bird in the Findlay Poultry show, and his poultry has often won prizes at the Hancock and Wood County Fairs.

Mr. Metzler was married in Hamilton County, Iowa, to Adella Moulton, and they have five children: Mabel, Ethel, Clifford, Cuvier, and Fauntine. Mr. Metzler is a prominent member of the Elks and the Maccabees.

CONRAD HENRY HOGREFE, who is engaged in general farming on a tract of 80 acres located in Section 13, Cass Township, Hancock County, Ohio, was born October 4, 1840, in Hanover, Germany. His parents were both natives of Germany. The father died be- fore our subject was born and the mother- Mary Hogrefe-also died in her native coun- try. They were the parents of the following

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children : William, who died in Iowa; Fred, who died in the southern army; Sophia, wife of Amiel Garber of Chicago, Ill .; Christopher, residing in Illinois; John, deceased; and Con- rad H., the subject of this sketch.

Conrad H. Hogrefe was reared in Hanover, Germany, and there attended the common schools, after which he worked out by the day. In 1872 he came to America and located in Findlay, Ohio, on August 26th. The follow- ing day he went out to the Henry Kuhlman farm in Portage Township, and there spent the following winter. He worked for two months in a stone quarry at $1,25 per day and in the spring located in Portage Township on the John Cooper farm, which he rented for nine years. The house on this farm was an old log building, to which a frame addition had been added and had formerly been a school, and in this home Mr. Hogrefe began his career in this country. He later rented the Charles Tailor farm, which is located east of Van Buren in Allen Township, for three years; then for seven years he rented the Jasper Franks farm in Cass Township, and in 1890 bought his present farm of 80 acres at $40 an acre. During the first year, the place was farmed by his children, and he and his wife located here the following year. There was a little four- room house and barn on the place, and in 1893 Mr. Hogrefe built a seven-room frame house, remodeled the barn, dug a cellar and in va- rious other ways made improvements on the place. Mr. Hogrefe has continued to follow general farming here with much success, and what he has attained in worldly goods has been entirely due to his own efforts, and those of his estimable wife. She spent many days working with him in the fields, and the first year on the place, bound the grain, while he cradled it.

Mr. Hogrefe was married October 1, 1870, in Hanover, Germany, to Mary Kuhlman, who was born February 15, 1843, in Hanover, and is a daughter of Henry and Mary (Frehking) Kuhlman. Her parents both came to this country, the father's death occurring the year after locating here. They were the parents of the following children: Mary, wife of our subject; William, of Allen Township; Fred, deceased; Dora, deceased, wife of William Sharninghouse; Herman, a resident of Blanch- ard Township; George, deceased; Sophia, the wife of Detrich Scheele, of Blanchard Town- ship; and Anna, who is the wife of Henry Hector, of Putnam County, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Hogrefe are parents of the following children: Henry, Emma, Jane, and Lena. Henry, who was born in Germany, was nine months old when his parents came to this country. He married Elizabeth Doke and they have four children, Esther, Gladys, Clara, and Otto. He resides on a farm of 80 acres in Cass Township. Jane, deceased, was the wife of William Fisher and the mother of one daugh- ter, Mary. Lena married John Vogelsong and has two children, Lester and Emma. They live in Cass Township. The family holds mem- bership with the Lutheran church. Mr. Hogrefe is politically a Democrat and has served on the school board of Cass Township.

CHARLES ALGE,* a member of the well known firm of Alge Brothers, who are general stone, concrete and brick contractors of Find- lay. Ohio, was born September 14, 1862 in Martinstowns, Hancock County, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Theresa ( Beck) Alge.

Joseph Alge was born in 1839 in Baden, Germany, where he spent the first eighteen years of his life. He then came to America,

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located in Martinstown, Hancock County, Ohio, where he first purchased 40 acres of land. In 1871 he located in Findlay Township where he resided two years, and then removed to Eagle Township. In 1888 he came to Find- lay, where he was living at the time of his death, February 16, 1910. He was one of the prominent pioneer contractors of Findlay, and was engaged in that business in Hancock County previous to the war. He erected many of the dwellings and business blocks of Find- lay, the last one on which he and our subject contracted having been the Karst Block of Findlay. Shortly after locating in the county Mr. Alge invested his money in farm lands, and at the time of his death was the owner of two tracts of land, consisting of 268 acres. The mother of our subject is still living.

Charles Alge was nine years old when his parents removed from Martinstown to Find- lay, where he was reared and attended the common schools. He learned brick and stone masonry with his father, who was one of the leading contractors of the county, and since 1884 has been engaged in general stone, con- crete and brick contracting in partnership with his brother Joseph, operating under the firm name of Alge Brothers.

Mr. Alge was first united in marriage with Lena Savage, who died leaving three children: Gertrude, Charles, and Lester. He subse- quently married Elizabeth Goodman and of their union were born, Annie, Agnes, Albert. Lawrence, Richard, and Bernard. The re- ligious connection of the family is with the Roman Catholic church.

HENRY C. BRINKMAN, an enterprising citizen and well known general farmer of Allen Township, Hancock County, Ohio, is the owner

of a farm of 75 acres located about one and a quarter miles east of Van Buren on the Ridge Road. He was born in Germany, February I, 1871, and is a son of Henry W. and Margaret Brinkman, the latter of whom died when the son Henry was quite young.

In 1881 Henry Brinkman came to the United States with his father, who first resided at Findlay, Ohio, for a short time. They subse- quently removed to Van Buren, where the father worked two years on the Mnason Adams farm in Allen Township. In 1883 he rented a farm in Allen Township, and they continued their residence on that farm until 1893, in which year Mr. Brinkman removed to a farm of 65 acres, which he had purchased in Cass Township. He married for his second wife, Minnie Nique, and they now reside on the farm in Cass Township.

Henry Brinkman was reared from his tenth year in Allen Township, and obtained his edu- cation in the district schools of that vicinity and at Van Buren. He follows general farm- ing and is one of the prosperous and enterpris- ing citizens of Allen Township. He is frater- nally a member of the Knights of Pythias, No. 473, and of the Knights of the Maccabees. He has served as a member of the Allen Township school board, and is a member and trustee of the United Brethren church of Van Buren, Ohio.

In 1894 Mr. Brinkman was united in mar- riage with Emma J. Lyon, a daughter of E. S. Lyon. Mrs. Brinkman taught school for twenty-one months, three months in Hancock County and eighteen months in North Balti- more. Of their union have been born the fol- lowing children-Floyd E., Bertha M. and Ruth Anlize, the last named being just one

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month old when the agent was canvassing for the history.

W. E. HOUCK, who is prominently identified with the manufacturing interests of Hancock County, is manager of the Findlay branch of the Boss Manufacturing Company, which, in the line of its special- ties, is the largest plant in the country and commands a larger output than any other in the world. Mr. Houck was born at Houcktown, Hancock County, Ohio, April 6, 1873, and is a son of William and Eliza- beth (Smaltz) Houck.

William Houck is one of Hancock Coun- ty's venerable and revered citizens. He was born March 4, 1827, and is a son of Jacob F. Houck, who gave his name to the town of Houcktown and was prominent in the early affairs of the county.

W. E. Houck grew up a farmer boy, but an intelligent and ambitious one. After leaving school he taught the country schools for seven years and then came to Findlay, and since 1901 has been in busi- ness here and has been with the Boss Man- ufacturing Company since 1893, when the plant was established in Findlay. The home plant of this company is at Kewanee, Illi- nois, and branch factories are located at Findlay, Ohio; Galesburg, Monmouth and Peoria, Illinois; New York City; Fort Wayne and Bluffton, Indiana; and Van Wert, Ohio. The Findlay plant is devoted exclusively to the manufacture of cloth gloves and mittens. The output of the fac- tories include cloth gloves and mittens and corn husker gloves. Additions are being made at the present writing (1910) to the Findlay plant which will greatly increase

production and facilitate business. A brick addition 50 by 140 feet, three stories in height, will soon be completed, in which will be installed an automatic sprinkling system as a fire protection. From 100 to 150 more employes will be required by this plant un- der the new conditions, 460 now being em- ployed, these being mainly girls, 360 ma- chines being operated. Mr. Houck is also president of the Hollerback Piano Com- pany, manufacturers of pianos, the factory being located on Western Avenue, Findlay.

Mr. Houck married Miss Lorena Gail Prindle, of Hancock County, and they have two children, Hugh and Mary. Mr. Houck is an active and public-spirited citizen and during 1908 and 1909 was a member of the board of public service at Findlay. He is identified with the Masons, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias.

JACOB SLUPE, one of the old and prominent citizens of Pleasant Township, Hancock County, O., where he owns 200 acres of very fine land, was born in Colum- biana County, O., February 21, 1830, and is a son of Solomon and Anna (Shatter) Slupe.

Solomon Slupe was born in Pennsyl- vania, where his father died when he was seven years of age and when brought to Columbiana County by neighbors, he was an orphan. He grew to manhood there and finally bought a tract of thirteen acres of land. He married Anna Shatter there, who was also born in Pennsylvania, and in the fall of 1844 they moved to Seneca County. O., where he died in 1866. He first pur- chased forty acres of land fourteen miles southeast of Tiffin and later added forty

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acres, owning eighty acres when he died, the greater part of it being timber land. His widow moved from Seneca to Hancock County and later to Putnam, where she died at the home of a daughter, in 1875. Of their nine children, Jacob was the eldest, the others being as follows: Elizabeth, who was the wife of David Metzler and both died in Indiana ; Samuel, who lived and died on a farm adjoining that of Jacob Slupe, and married Sarah Ewing, who is also de- ceased; Martha, who was the wife of John Huffman, and died in Cleveland, O .; Mary, who was the wife of David Van Sickle, and died in Putnam County, as did her hus- band, they expiring within thirty-six hours of each other; Nancy, who is the widow of Adam Cosner, and resides in Putnam County; Hannah, who died in Elkhart County, Ind., was the wife of John Felt- house; and Solomon and Noah, twins, both of whom survive. Solomon is a farmer in Putnam County and married Lillie Edging- ton. Noah has never married and for twenty-nine years has lived at Kansas City, where he is a carpenter and contractor.

Jacob Slupe's first instruction at school was confined to the German alphabet but later he was taught English and gained a fair district school education in Seneca County. In the fall of 1856 he was married and then bought forty acres of land situ- ated eighty rods from the Portage Town- ship line in Pleasant Township, which he later sold and subsequently repurchased. Four acres had been cleared and a cabin was on the place. Mr. Slupe has been a shrewd handler of farm property and sev- . eral of his purchases have changed hands profitably several times. He bought eighty

acres of William Bennett and sold the same two years later and bought John Wesley Smith's farm, one and three-quarter miles west, which he sold in 1864. In 1865 he pur- chased 120 acres and after he finished pay- ing for this, purchased eighty more acres, of Jona Robinson, and 120 acres of William Hilkert. A small structure was on this land but in 1872 Mr. Slupe built his fine brick residence and a substantial barn but the lat- ter was destroyed by fire and the present barn took its place. In all his operations Mr. Slupe showed patience and good judg- ment. When he acquired this land a large part of it was under water, scarcely any at- tempt having been made to drain it. He first put in lumber drains but later put down tile and converted all the waste land into rich soil and has now one of the most productive farms in Pleasant Township. Mr. Slupe is a self made man and all he owns he has earned through his own efforts. He is a carpenter by trade and when he first came to this section did a large amount of building and many of the houses and barns standing in Pleasant Township were put up by him. He witnessed many changes in the fifty-three years he has been a resident of Pleasant Township and has done his full share in bringing about improvements.

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 63

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1189

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell
Publication date: 1910
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1189